Back-pedaling brake



N0. 625,4!5. Patented May 23, I899.

J. C. REBER & W. l. GBUBB. BACK PEDALING BRAKE.

(Application filed Dec. 12, 1898.) (No Model) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

Mhtwaww No. 625,4I5. Patented May 23,1899. J. C. REBER 8. W. I. GRUBB.

BACK PEDALING BRAKE.

(Application filed Dec. 12, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. szskus. Patented May 23, I899. J. c. REBER & w. I. GBUBB.

BACK PEDALING BRAKE.

(Application filed Dec. 12, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

liiliii l lhun UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES c. REBER, on READING, AND WILLIAM I. GRUBB, or PoTTsTowN,

PENNSYLVANIA.

BACK-PEDALING BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,415, dated. May 23, 1899.

Application filed December 12, 1898. Serial No. 699,049- N m d l- To all whom it 17mg concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES C. REBER, residing at Reading, in the county of Berks, and IVILLIAM I. GRUBB, residing at Pottstown, in

the county of Montgomery, State of Pennsylvania, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Back-Pedaling Brake Mechanisms for Bicycles; and we do hereby declare the following I0 to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to back-pedaling brake mechanisms for bicycles, and aims to provide an improved form of means whereby backward turning of the pedals has the effect of applying or setting the brake. This general idea has been embodied in numerous 2o previously-patented devices of which we are aware, and in evolving the present invention we have sought to overcome defects in such prior constructions, specific objects with us being to avoid complications in the crankhanger by arranging the brake mechanism entirely without the same, to in no manner interfere with adjustment of the bearings of the driving-shaft, and to obviate the use of a spring or springs to release the brake, this being effected through the peculiar mode of connection we have adopted between the driving mechanism of the bicycle and the brake.

With the above-stated objects in view the invention consists in a number of novel fea- 3 5 tures of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are recited in the appended claims and a number of forms of embodiment of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically described hereinafter.

Of said drawings, Figure I represents a safety-bicycle in side elevation with our invention embodied therein, the frame and the spokes of the rear wheel being represented as broken away around the hub of the latter, which appears in cross-section with certain driving-connections in elevation beyond. Fig. II represents the brake mechanism in side elevation, on an enlarged scale, as compared with Fig. I, together with adjacent parts of the bicycle, some of which are broken away and some shown in section, the brake mechanism appearing in the act of releasing. Fig. III is a somewhat similar view with the brake mechanism represented as applied or set. Fig. IV is a sectionalized top plan View of the parts shown in Figs. II and III. Fig. V is asection on line V V of II. Fig. VI is a section on line VI VI of Fig. V. Figs. VII and VIII are sectionalized top plan views illustrating 6o modifications in the connections between the driving mechanism and the brake. Fig. IX represents another modified form of such connections in side elevation, and Fig. X is a section on line X X of Fig. IX.

. In the drawings, the reference-letter a designates the crank-hanger of a safety-bicycle, and b the horizontal frame-fork in which the rear wheel is journaled, the tire of such wheel being designated by the letter a. A drivingshaft d is journaled in the crank-hanger in any suitable manner and carries the usual pedal-equipped cranks d, one of which has rigidly associated with it a driving sprocketwheel (1 said crank being formed in one piece, with a spider 01 having studs d, which pass through webs d of the sprocket-wheel. Ears d on a ring 6 also fit over said studs and against spacing-sleeves e, surrounding the latter, which are tapped to receive bolts 6 whose heads take over the ears of the ring, whereby the same is rigidly secured to the sprocket-wheel, as clearly illustrated in Fig. IV. The ring surrounds the crankhanger,and the spacingofitfrom thesprocketwheel brings it in alinement with a bifurcation, here shown as formed by two lugs or short standards f, on the upper side of one tine of the fork b at a point some distance in front of the rear wheel and apertured to ac- 9o commodate a cross-pin in the form of a bolt f, which engages screw-threads in the aperture of the innermost lug. An arm g fits somewhat loosely in the above-described bifurcation and has a longitudinal slot g of considerable length, through which the bolt f passes to constitute both a guide for the arm in lengthwise movementand a pivot for the same. The forward end of saidarm is formed with a vertically-bifurcated head em- 10o bracing the ring e, the outer member g of said head, as shown in Figs. IV and V, having a plain inner face extending over the plain outer face of the ring, whereas the inner member g of the head has an oblique groove 9 on its inner face, tapering in depth and confronting an annular groove 6 in the inner face of the ring, such groove' being substantially semicircular in cross-section and concentric with the driving-shaft. The oblique groove g in the bifurcated head is curvilinear in cross-section and substantially semicircular at its deepest portion, which occurs at its upper forward end, such groove lessening in dept-h and width as it extends rearwardly and downwardly. (See Figs. V and VI.) A ball h occupies the oblique groove above described and the annular groove in the ring and when in the deepest part of said oblique groove may freely rotate, but when driven back from such part of the groove will constitute a wedge between the ring and the bifurcated head. It will be seen that forward rotation of the ring tends to keep the ball in the forward upper end of the oblique groove, whereas rearward turning of said ring will have the effect of driving the ball toward the lower rear end of the groove with the wedging effect above indicated. The grooved member 9 of the 'bifurcated head is formed with a beveled end face, out of which the deep end of the groove opens, and the ball. is confined in the groove by an angular plate h, one portion of which covers said beveled end face and the other portion of which extends along the top of the bifurcated head and is secured thereto by a screw 7712. An ordinary ball, such as used in bicycle-bearings is preferably employed, and the above-described retainer affords ready means for inserting and extracting the ball.

The rear end of the arm g is formed with a number of apertures 2', any one of which-is adapted to receive a reduced end of a pin 2', shouldered to abut the inner side of the arm, said reduced end being screw-threaded to receive clamping and lock nuts i and i The said pin is shouldered at some distance from the-inner side of the arm and has a reduced end portion over which fits a lug j, formed on the rear side of a brake-shoe j. A sleeve 2' fits over the said reduced end portion of the pin, which is screw-threaded to receive a nut 2' designed to hold the sleeve in position to properly confine the brake-shoe while permitting the same to rock on the pin as a pivot. The lug on the shoe is located sufficiently above the transverse center of the same to create such a preponderance of weight on one side of the pivot as to cause the shoe to naturally assume the oblique position illustrated in Figs. I and II, where the parts are shown in their normal relations.

The sprocket-wheel being driven forward and of course carrying the grooved ring with it sufficient friction exists between the walls of the groove and the ball to drive the latter against the retainer-plate h and cause the brake arm or lever to be maintained in a forward position with its bifurcated head uplifted and the brake-shoe free from the rearwheel tire. Upon a rearward turning of the grooved ring 8, as by back-pedaling, the ball is instantly driven backward toward the shallow end of the oblique groove and will quickly become wedged between the walls of the latter and those of the annular groove, so that the arm will be carried rearwardly as though coupled to a crank-pin on the ring, said arm tilting on the pin f as a fulcrum, and at the same time sliding along the same, with the result that the brake-shoe is pressed against the tread of the tire and an obvious braking effect is had. Upon exerting force to drive the crank-shaft forward the brake-shoe will be disengaged from the tire by reason of the brake-arm being drawn forward and its front end uplifted, the first effect of the forward rotation of the grooved ring being to tilt and draw forward the arm, after which the ball is advanced to the deep end of the oblique groove in the latter and against the plate h, whereupon the arm is drawn farther forward and there maintained. A very slight amount of friction is necessary between the grooved ring and the ball in order to bring the arm to the limit of its forward movement, and as in practice this arm does not move rearwardly of its own accord, when it has once been brought to the forward position the ball rolls quite freely and ofiers no appreciable resist ance to propulsion of the bicycle.

Of course it is to be understood that the driven sprocket-wheel is connected with the rear ground-wheel by intermittent grip devices, so that the latter may run free in coasting, and the driving-sprocket may be 'turned rearwardly without affecting the rear groundwheel, while when driven forward it will turn the same in propulsion of the bicycle.

In Fig. I the rear sprocket-wheel z is shown as journaled upon a flange or collar 0 of the rear-wheel hub 0 said collar having tapering notches c and rollers .2" occupying the notches. It is to be understood, however,

hat the driving-connections between the crank-shaft and the rear wheel may have the one-way feature imparted to them in any other appropriate manner.

It will be apparent that the above-described construction is well adapted to thoroughly fulfil the objects primarily stated.

In the construction shown in Fig. VII the grooved ring as a separate element from the driving sprocket-wheel is dispensed with and the sprocket-wheel cl itself is formed in the inner side within the circle of the teeth with an annular groove e the bifurcated head g of the arm or lever g embracing the grooved portion of the sprocket-wheel,so that the wedgingball h may operate between the groove in the sprocket-wheel and the groove in said head in the same manner as between the groove in the ring and the groove in the head in the construction already described. It will be seen that with this modified arrangement the brake will be applied and released in the same mansary to make the brake arm or lever of the angular shape shown in order to bring its rearwardly-extending portion in proper relation to the brake-shoe.

Fig. VIII illustrates another modified construction, which differs from that shown in Figs. I to V1 principally in the formation of one member of the bifurcated head with a lateral extension 9' and a transverse bore g confining an antifriction-ball g", which is held in contact with the outer side of the ring 6 by a spiral spring g The bore g is screwthreaded to receive a screw-plug g, which confines the spiral spring, and it will be seen that this arrangement prevents friction between the bifurcated arm and the outer side of the ring when the latter is rotating in a forward direction.

In all of the constructions thus far described it is preferable to allow the brake arm or lever a lateral movement on its pivotpin sufficient to create friction between the outer member of the bifurcated head and the outer side of the ring or sprocketwheel when the wedging action takes place by reason of a reversal of movement of the ring or sprocketwheel. In Figs. VII and VIII the provision for this lateral movement is represented as somewhat exaggerated,and when the wedging action takes place in the arrangement shown in Fig. VIII the antifriction-ball retreats into the bore g ,compressing the spiral spring.

Figs. IX and X illustrate another modified form of embodiment of the invention, the letter 0 designating the ring, which is made fast with the sprocket-wheel and is formed with an annular groove 0 in one side rectangular in cross-section and much wider than the groove in the ring first described, the modified form of ring having concentric flanges which produce the groove. The brake arm or lever 17 is bent laterally, so as to provide for one portion extending rearwardly in proper relation to the brake-shoe and another portion extending forwardly past the inner side of the grooved portion of the ring. This forwardly-extending portion of the arm is formed at the front end with a transverse bearing 19 for a stud 19 having a screw-threaded end portion 19 on which is fastened a wedgingpiece 19 egg-shaped in outline and occupying the groove oof the ring, with its smaller end in contact with the inner side of said groove. This wedging-piece being fastened to the stud which is journaled in the bearing 1) may turn in the groove, and a coiled spring 19 fastened to the bearing and carried part way around the same and pressing against a pin 23, projecting from one side of the wedging-piece, has the effect of keeping the pointed end of the latter against theinner side of the groove. The longest diameter of the wedging-piece exceeds the width of the groove, and such wedging-piece lies obliquely in the groove,and underforward rotation of the ring the friction between the inner side of the groove and the end of the wedging-piece has the effect of turning the latter forward against the stress of the spring 19 with a tendency to straightening the wedging-piece in the groove, so that there is no binding of the same in the groove. Upon rearward turning of the ring, however, the wedging-piece is turned backward and wedged in the groove by reason of its larger end being forcibly pressed into contact with the outer side of the groove,while its smaller end remains in frictional contact with the inner side of the groove. This binding of the wedging-piece in the groove necessarily results in the wedging-piece and the brake arm or lever being carried rearwardly and the brake being applied to the wheel.

The above-described modifications indicate that the invention is capable of embodiment in a great many different ways, and therefore in the claims which follow essential elements are recited without restriction to details of construction.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the pedal or drivingshaft, the driven ground-wheel, and the oneway driving connections between the same and said shaft; of a brake mechanism adapted to be operated by backward turning of the driving shaft, and comprising an annular member fixedly associated with the drivingshaft, an arm slidingly and pivotally mounted upon the frame of the machine and extending in proximity to the said annular member; a loosely-arranged binder or wedging device interposed between the latter and said arm and maintaining an engagement between the same with provisions for permitting the annular member to turn in a forward direction unaccompanied by the arm and for causing a rearward turning of said annular member to effect a pitman-like action of the arm; and a brake appliance connected with the arm.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the pedal or drivingshaft, the driven ground-wheel, and the oneway driving connections between the same and said shaft; of abrake mechanism adapted to be operated by backward turning of the driving-shaft, and comprising an annularlygrooved member fixedly associated with the driving-shaft, an arm slidingly and pivotally mounted upon the frame of the machine and extending in proximity to the annular groove of such member; a loosely-arranged binder or wedging device occupying said groove and engaged with said arm with provisions for permitting the annular member to turn in a forward direction unaccompanied by the arm and for causing a rearward turning of said annular member to effect a pitman-like action of the arm; and a brake appliance connected with the arm.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the pedal or drivingshaft, the driven ground-wheel, and the one-- way driving connections between the same and said shaft; of a brake mechanism adapted to be operated by backward turning of the driving shaft, and comprising an annular grooved member affixed to the driving-shaft, an arm having a slot-and-pin connection with the frame and a tapering groove confronting said annular groove, a ball occupying said confronting grooves, and a brake-shoecoupled to the arm in position to be pressed against the ground-wheel upon backward turning of the driving-shaft.

4:. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the pedal or drivingshaft, the driven ground-wheel, and the oneway driving connections between the same and said shaft; of a brake mechanism adapted to be operated by backward turning of the driving-shaft, and comprising an annular member afllxed to the driving-shaft and having an annular groove in one side, an arm having a slot-and-pin connection with the frame of the machine and a bifurcated head embracing the grooved portion of the said annular member,a tapering groove being form ed in one side of the bifurcation, a ball occupying said grooves, and a brake-shoe coupled to the arm and positioned for engagement with an appropriate portion of the rear wheel.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the pedal or drivingshaft, the driven ground-wheel, and the oneway driving connections between the same and said shaft; of abrake mechanism adapted to be operated by backward turning of the driving-shaft, and comprising an annular member fast with the driving-shaft, an arm mounted on the frame of the machine with provision for longitudinal and lateral movement said arm having a bifurcated head embracing the annular member, a wedging connection between one member of said head and one side of the ring whereby upon rearward turning of the driving-shaft the arm is moved both rearwardly and laterally and the other member of its bifurcated head pressed against the other side of the annular member, and a brake-shoe carried by the arm in position to be pressed against the ground-wheel.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the pedal or drivingshaft, the driven ground-wheel, and the oneway driving connections between the same and said shaft; of abrake mechanism adapted to be operated by backward turning of the driving-shaft, and comprising an annular I member fast with the driving-shaft, an arm mounted on the frame of the machine with provision for longitudinal and lateral movement said arm having a bifurcated head embracing the annular member, a wedging connection between one member of said head and one side of the ring whereby upon rearward turning of the driving-shaft the arm is moved both rearwardly and laterally and the other member of its bifurcated head pressed against the other side of the annularmemher, an antifriction-ball occupying a pocket in such other member of the bifurcated head and spring-pressed against the annular braking member, and a brake-shoe carried by the arm in position to be pressed against the ground-wheel.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES C. REBER. \VM. I. GRUBB. 

